theoretical


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to theoretical: Theoretical value

the·o·ret·i·cal

 (thē′ə-rĕt′ĭ-kəl) also the·o·ret·ic (-rĕt′ĭk)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or based on theory.
2. Restricted to theory; not practical or applied: theoretical physics.
3. Studying or working to develop theory.

[Late Latin theōrēticus, from Greek theōrētikos, from theōrētos, observable, from theōrein, to look at; see theorem.]

the′o·ret′i·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

theoretical

(ˌθɪəˈrɛtɪkəl) or

theoretic

adj
1. of or based on theory
2. lacking practical application or actual existence; hypothetical
3. using or dealing in theory; impractical
ˌtheoˈretically adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

the•o•ret•i•cal

(ˌθi əˈrɛt ɪ kəl)

also the`o•ret′ic,



adj.
1. of, pertaining to, or consisting in theory; not practical.
2. existing only in theory; hypothetical.
3. given to, forming, or dealing with theories; speculative.
[1610–20; theoretic (< Late Latin theōrēticus < Greek theōrētikós=theōrēt(ós) that may be seen (v. adj. of theōreîn to observe; see theorem) + -ikos -ic) + -al1]
the`o•ret′i•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.theoretical - concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; "theoretical science"
empirical, empiric - derived from experiment and observation rather than theory; "an empirical basis for an ethical theory"; "empirical laws"; "empirical data"; "an empirical treatment of a disease about which little is known"
2.theoretical - concerned with theories rather than their practical applications; "theoretical physics"
applied - concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles; "applied physics"; "applied psychology"; "technical problems in medicine, engineering, economics and other applied disciplines"- Sidney Hook
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

theoretical

adjective
2. hypothetical, academic, notional, unproven, conjectural, postulatory There is a theoretical risk, but there is seldom a problem.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

theoretical

adjective
1. Existing only in concept and not in reality:
2. Concerned primarily with theories rather than practical matters:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
نَظَري
teoretický
elméleti
fræîilegur
teoretický
teoretičen

theoretical

[θɪəˈretɪkəl] ADJ (gen) → teórico
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

theoretical

[ˌθiːəˈrɛtɪkəl] adjthéorique
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

theoretical

[θɪəˈrɛtɪkl] theoretic [θɪəˈrɛtɪk] adj (Science) → teoretico/a; (possibility) → teorico/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

theory

(ˈθiəri) plural ˈtheories noun
1. an idea or explanation which has not yet been proved to be correct. There are many theories about the origin of life; In theory, I agree with you, but it would not work in practice.
2. the main principles and ideas in an art, science etc as opposed to the practice of actually doing it. A musician has to study both the theory and practice of music.
ˌtheoˈretical (-ˈreti-) adjective
ˌtheoˈretically (-ˈreti-)
adverb.
ˈtheorize, ˈtheorise verb
to make theories. He did not know what had happened, so he could only theorize about it.
ˈtheorist noun
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

theoretical

a. teórico-a, rel. a una teoría.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
References in classic literature ?
The theoretical possibility of the experiment is therefore absolutely demonstrated; its success must depend upon the power of the engine employed.
We may define as "sensation" that part which proceeds in this way, while the remainder, which is a mnemic phenomenon, will have to be added to the sensation to make up what is called the "perception." According to this definition, the sensation is a theoretical core in the actual experience; the actual experience is the perception.
He could have been whatever he turned his agile intellect and his cunning hand to; he had been a schoolmaster and a watch-maker, and I believe an amateur doctor and irregular lawyer; he talked and wrote brilliantly, and he was one of the group that nightly disposed of every manner of theoretical and practical question at the drug-store; it was quite indifferent to him which side he took; what he enjoyed was the mental exercise.
The necessity of a concurrent jurisdiction in certain cases results from the division of the sovereign power; and the rule that all authorities, of which the States are not explicitly divested in favor of the Union, remain with them in full vigor, is not a theoretical consequence of that division, but is clearly admitted by the whole tenor of the instrument which contains the articles of the proposed Constitution.
For man's everyday needs, it would have been quite enough to have the ordinary human consciousness, that is, half or a quarter of the amount which falls to the lot of a cultivated man of our unhappy nineteenth century, especially one who has the fatal ill-luck to inhabit Petersburg, the most theoretical and intentional town on the whole terrestrial globe.
He laughed at theoretical treatises on estate management, disliked factories, the raising of expensive products, and the buying of expensive seed corn, and did not make a hobby of any particular part of the work on his estate.
On the contrary, she was one half of a very happy marriage, and, in a sense, her sufferings at the moment were merely theoretical, if one may so describe the sufferings caused by a theory.
The completion of the Tellurionical Records closed what Lavalle himself was pleased to call the theoretical side of his labours--labours from which the youngest and least impressionable planeur might well have shrunk.
"...In the following cases: physical defect in the married parties, desertion without communication for five years," he said, crooking a short finger covered with hair, "adultery" (this word he pronounced with obvious satisfaction), "subdivided as follows" (he continued to crook his fat fingers, though the three cases and their subdivisions could obviously not be classified together): "physical defect of the husband or of the wife, adultery of the husband or of the wife." As by now all his fingers were used up, he uncrooked all his fingers and went on: "This is the theoretical view; but I imagine you have done me the honor to apply to me in order to learn its application in practice.
Having offended Queen Elizabeth by his boldness in successfully opposing an encroachment on the rights of the House of Commons, Bacon connected himself with the Earl of Essex and received from him many favors; but when Essex attempted a treasonable insurrection in 1601, Bacon, as one of the Queen's lawyers, displayed against him a subservient zeal which on theoretical grounds of patriotism might appear praiseworthy, but which in view of his personal obligations was grossly indecent.
There are features in the Constitution which warrant each of these suppositions; and as far as either of them is well founded, it shows that the convention must have been compelled to sacrifice theoretical propriety to the force of extraneous considerations.
The theoretical conclusions of the Communists are in no way based on ideas or principles that have been invented, or discovered, by this or that would-be universal reformer.

Full browser ?